Nickel Plate 765 smartly steps over the Sangamon River Bridge and out of a foggy Decatur, a former Wabash Shop Town, leading NS Train 099 on the NS Brooklyn District after an overnight layover on its way to St. Louis for employee appreciation excursions. 765 rolling around the distant curve was the first time I had ever laid eyes on it and I probably won't soon forget that. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives. Shot on black and white print film.

Nickel Plate 765 smartly steps over the Sangamon River Bridge and out of a foggy Decatur, a former Wabash Shop Town, leading NS Train 099 on the NS Brooklyn District after an overnight layover on its way to St. Louis for employee appreciation excursions. 765 rolling around the distant curve was the first time I had ever laid eyes on it and I probably won't soon forget that. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

Making 40 MPH now, the Nickel Plate Road Berkshire has NS Train 099 well in hand and is headed for St. Louis on the NS Brooklyn District.

The sound 765 and her eerily Frisco 1522-esque steamboat style Wabash Whistle made as it rolled by 1/8th of a mile away legitimately gave me chills and made the hair stand up on my arms. Choo choos don't do that to me very often anymore, but I think part of it has something to do with this being 10 years to the month of SLSF 1522 being parked for the last time. It was nice to hear that again.

The whistle from 2-8-2 Mikado WAB 2202 echoes out across the countryside as the Nickel Plate 2-8-4 Berkshire #765 passes the Wabash Searchlights on the NS Brooklyn District at the north end of Taylorville with NS Train 099.

The whistle sounded eerily similar to the one Frisco 1522 used to carry, and brought back memories of a September 10 years ago, when 1522 ran its last excursions. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

NKP 755 leads NS Train 099 into Raymond and leaves the Wabash Bracket Searchlight Searchlight Signals at the north end of Midway Siding in a smoky haze as it pounds towards St. Louis on the NS Brooklyn District. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

NKP 795 is about to pass over I-55 with NS Train 099 as it rolls down the NS Brooklyn District between Karnes and Ruger bound for St. Louis. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

NS Train 099 pounds through Lenox Tower led by Nickel Plate 765 on the NS Brooklyn District. This was the first time in at least 10 years since the last steam locomotive had been through here. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

NS Train 099 climbs the east Approach to the Merchants Bridge over the Mississippi River (and the UP and NS mains) on the TRRA Merchants Sub. The train will continue onto NS Berkeley Yard. Trailing the steam engine are the NS's ITC and WAB Heritage Locomotives.

Nickel Plate 765 stays hot at Berkeley through the night after a day of running down from Decatur. Tomorrow will be a train preparation day, and then Saturday and Sunday will be 2 trips per day out to St. Peters, MO and back. Taken with permission from NS Corp.

Nickel Plate Road 765 sits at NS Berkeley Yard after a day of running down from Decatur, IL as NS Train 099. A pair of Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Watchmen are up on the engine keeping her hot through the night and were very accommodating to our requests for the headlight, numberboards and classification lights to be on.

Thanks to FWRHS's Kelly Lynch, George and Tyler Kester, and Steven Harvey, among others for their comradeship. Taken with permission from NS Corp. and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.

Contrast this with looking into the belly of an oil burner like UP 844. Certainly a different animal in a lot of ways, but once you have steam, it's pretty much the same. Taken with permission from NS Corp. and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.

Here's a look at the engineer's side of Nickel Plate 765 as she's kept nice and hot through the night by her dedicated volunteer caretakers. Taken with permission from NS Corp. and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.

Nickel Plate Road 765 sits at NS Berkeley Yard after a day of running down from Decatur, IL as NS Train 099. A pair of Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society Watchmen are up on the engine keeping her hot through the night and were very accommodating to our requests for the headlight, numberboards and classification lights to be on.

Thanks to FWRHS's Kelly Lynch, George and Tyler Kester, and Steven Harvey, among others for their comradeship. Taken with permission from NS Corp. and Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. Shot on black and white print film.

Nickel Plate Road 765 takes NS Train 099 west over the Missouri River using former Wabash Trackage of the NS St. Louis District during a 9 A.M. Excursion in conjunction with the St. Louis Terminal's Norfolk Southern 30th Anniversary celebration.